The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-04-20
NEW YoRK's LAST DRAFT.
How President Lincoln Lightened ths Bur
den but Demanded Men In Boots.
IVatartory-n Timaa
IWatertown Times. |

Matert0wn Times
In the winter of 1S6i-5 there were several
calls for men from the War Department to
fill the New York regiments that had been
depleted by the three-and-a-half years war
for the Union. One was issued in Decem-
Der for 81 600 men; it being considered ex-
cessive by the authorities at Albany. Gov
ernor Fenton and General Palmer, OF his
military staff, went to see If a reduction in
the number asked for could not be
obtained.
The Governor was unable to make any
impression upon Secretary Stanton, who
was more than firm. He was rigid in ad-
herring to the allotment fer New York as
then made. Not doubling the right and
Justice OF his claim for reduction and
reassignment as to the districts, the Gov
ernor called on Mr.. Lincoln, who listened
attentiVely and patiently to all he had to
say. at the close the President remarked:
81 guess you have the best of it, and l
must advise Stanton and Fry to ease up
little" He wrote upon card to Mr.. STAN
ton, and gave it to the Governor to carry to
HIM, the following:
The Governor had pretty good case. l feel
sure he is more than half right. We don'twant
him to feel cross and we in the wrong Try aud
The result was the quota as finally ar
ranged was fully 1000 less and the equality
between the several districts was in great
m. aSure restored.
There was subsequently another call of
the same kind, ana it being made before
the quota above referred to was filled, it
was beginning to be question whether
the men could be found. Indeed it was
known that there were districts that had
sent forward every man who was duly
qualified for the service. The trouble lay
in the fact that one week there was requi-
sition for A 900 men and shortly afterward
/ a 6QnQnn friends the
| State capital could not understand this,
and the Legislature appointed a committee
| consisting OF two Senators and three men,
bers OF Assembly to visit Washington, OBJ
tain an explanation, and if possible re-
| duction in the number of men asked for.
do not remember the names of all the
Assemblymen; l only know that Thomas
! them, and that the Senators were James A.
Bell, of this district, and George II. An
drews, of the Otsego District.
The committee went to Washington,
and at the earliest opportunity called on
the Secretary of War. Mr.. Van Buren, de-
sired to present the case to Secretary STAN
ton, and his colleagues assented to the
| proposition. He was q man who prided
himself on his capacity for making fine
speech, and on this occasion he intended
10 and did spread himself considerably.
Before he was half through the great
| War Secretary became uneasy and told him
he knew all about the difficulties in New
York, that they we're always wanting
\ something in that State, that they had
| more grievances than all the other States,
and that to listen to them would be a
waste of time. He frankly and bluntly
told the committee that their wishes could
/ not be complied with. THE men are all
needed, he said, ito replenish the armies,
and the Government must have them"
But suppose they can not be obtained
/ said Mr. Van Buren,.
"Don't you tell me they can't be OBJ
| tanned" answered Secretary Stanton in a
firm and measured voice. II will find a
way to get Them"
'Well, Mr.. Secretary, if you will not
| grant Us relief, nor even hear u.s. we shall
have to 90 to the President" And thus
saying, the committee, who had not been
| asked to take seats bade the Secretary good
day, and were about leaving the room
when, following them to the door, Mr.
Stanton said to Mr.. Bell, "What do you
gentlemen want?"
That gentleman told him that the com.
mlttee had been trying 10 tell him, and re-
iterated the points in the case.
They were told that they could see the
President, of course; "but / say to you,
said the Secretary, 1--WE must have the men
| / could not grant your request If l would
and would not IL could" The Secretary
was decidedly gruf and the committee left
him with no very high opinion of hi:
courtesy. They did not consider that they
had been civllly treated. They were moi
asked to repeat the call.
They subsequently, called on the Presi
dent, who received them kindly, patiently
listened to what they had to say, and while
assuring the committee that the men were
sorely needed, was good deal more reas
enable than the Secretary OF War. II
there are not men enough in the district u
fill the quota, of course it can not be filled
there" were the Presidents words. HI
said he would see Mr.. Stanton, and pro
posed that the committee should come Il
the White House in the evening of the dsy
following. By this time General Fry, thu
Provost Marshal General, having been sen
for, had entered the room. The Presiden
questioned him as to the discrepancy il
the two allotments for New York State
Al, 900 and 90, 900 having been figured out
under the same call for men. II made 8
mistake in the 1900" answered Genera
Fry. But are you now sure" asked Mr.
Lincoln, that you have no
made a mistake in the 62,OOO2'
This seemed rather to confuse thu
Provost Marshal General, and in a few
words it was arranged that the COMMITTEES
should go with him to his office and SCI
what discoveries could be made as to thu
| uduuCI VI up bhC QuOedo AOA VIZ
different States and districts. Some mem
bers of the committee intimated that no
much faith was reposed in General Fry
but the President guessed he would b.
found disposed to do what would be RICH
in tue case, and commended him to thei
confidence.
So the committee proceeded to his 9th &c
told their GRAND, when General Fry sen
for his great mathematician, who under
took to enlighten the committee as to tn
manner Of doing business in that depart
ment. The committee desired to under
stand why il was that New York had beel
asked to finished AZ 900 men one day ant
60, 900 shortly afterward. The great mathe
matician took up his pencil and Degan t
make figures, and so did the COMMITTEES
and as they proceeded they now and the
threw in a question.
by the time he had been before US hal
an hour" saws Mr.. Bell, "he became 8
mixed up and confused that he was unabl
to determine with any degree of certaint
that two and two would make four" A
a matter of fact he was wholly unable t
give a reason Tor raising the figures fror
AZ 600 to 81 900, and the committee left tn
| Office in as much darkness as they ha
[ entered it.
, a majority of the committee offende
; with the reception given them by the SCI
( rotary OF War, and despairing Of obtainin
the relief desired, returned to Alban,
But Mr.. Bell remained, as did Senator Al